Highland Park schools manager temporarily idled

A state-appointed emergency manager for the Highland Park school district will be temporarily sidelined from his job while the state reacts to a court order saying that state review teams analyzing city and school finances must meet in public.

Gov. Rick Snyder and other state officials made the announcement Tuesday.

The move sidelines Highland Park schools emergency manager Jack Martin until the state can reconvene the review team that led to his appointment last month. Snyder said decision-making responsibilities would return to the superintendent and school board.

"Hopefully we'll have things worked out in the short term," said Martin.

The district is facing an $11.3 millions deficit. Snyder said the district could run out of money this week and fail to make payroll. The state has given the district a $4 million loan and several advancements and bailouts.

The entire school district could shut down on Monday.

The review team's public hearing is set for Wednesday.

Snyder could reactivate Martin's appointment soon after that meeting.

Ingham County Circuit Judge William Collette last week voided the decisions made by the state-appointed Highland Park review team because it didn't comply with the state's Open Meetings Act.

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